Creamy Custard Cakes

Updated: January 03, 2017
The magical marriage of pudding or custard and cake in one recipe results in a cake more moist and flavorful than any standard chocolate or vanilla cake, angel food cake, or even pound cake. These cakes don’t need piles of sugary icing because they already have dynamic flavor. Each bite is a combination of warm cake and rich filling; creating an irresistible texture. If you want a decadent dessert with a simple recipe, a custard or pudding cake is sure to satisfy.   
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Chocolate Tiramisu Poke Cake

Photo: Daniel Agee
Chocolate Tiramisu Poke Cake Recipe

The poke cake technique is incredibly easy, but that doesn't mean that poke cakes have a simple flavor. Enjoy the irresistible textures of pudding, cake, and crushed espresso beans in each bite of with this chocoatey take on Tiramisu.

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Plum Upside-Down Pudding Cake

Photo: Tara Sgroi; Styling: Angie Mosier
Plum Upside-Down Pudding Cake Recipe

Juicy plum and vanilla flavors combine to create this delicious upside-down cake. Pudding adds texture to this cake, not icing, so the plum flavor can shine through the subtle sweetness and the natural color of the plums decorate the gorgeous top. Use red or black plus, according to preference. 

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Vanilla Buttermint Poke Cake with Buttercream Frosting

Photo: Daniel Agee
Vanilla Buttermint Poke Cake with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

This sweet poke cake looks and tastes just like Christmastime. It's everything you love texture-wise about a poke cake, but it's also delightfully soft and minty with a gorgeous pure white color pallete. End your holiday dinners with a buttermint-- in cake form!

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Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake

Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake Recipe

Take your next chocolate cake to a whole new level with the addition of cinnamon, red pepper, and chipotle. Mexican chocolate is slightly spicy and goes perfectly with smooth chocolate pudding. This cake incorporates chocolate cake, pudding, and spice for a dynamic flavor and a sliced almond topping adds a crunch to the soft, warm cake.  Serve with ice cream. 

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Banana Caramel Pudding Cake

Oxmoor House
Banana Caramel Pudding Cake Recipe

This cake is similar to a very decadent banana bread with the addition of rich caramel flavor. The texture is wonderfully moist- not quite cake, and not quite pudding. It's already done cooking when the center springs back to the touch. Serve while still warm with vanilla ice cream. 

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Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo: Daniel Agee
Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

The flavors of gingerbread, salted caramel filling, and pumpkin cream cheese frosting marry to become the ultimate fall and holiday poke cake. This cake is a great snack cake or dessert and it's pretty enough to serve to guests. One taste and you're sure to bring this cake to potlucks all season long.

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Eggnog Magic Cake

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Blakesle Giles
Eggnog Magic Cake Recipe

Finally, eggnog you can eat. One magic cake batter transforms into two layers when baked and chilled: a cake layer and a custard layer. This dessert looks difficult to make, but is actully simple with easy-to-find ingredients. Try it topped with boozy whipped cream, made by whipping heavy cream and bourbon until stiff peaks form. 

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Apple Cream Torte

Photo: Jennifer Causey
Apple Cream Torte Recipe

A cream torte is like a cross between a cake, a custard, and a dutch baby. The tender-sweet varieties of apples used here soften more readily than some when baked, making them a better match for the delicate cake. Look for Northern California and Northwest varieties at your local grocery store or farmers' market from August through November. Five great Western apple varieties in the Cameo, Gravenstein, Ida Red, Pink Pearl, and Sierra Beauty.

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Chocolate-Cherry Pudding Cake

Photo: Oxmoor House
Chocolate-Cherry Pudding Cake Recipe
As the cake bakes, it separates into two layers, a tender chocolate spongelike cake and a rich chocolate-cherry sauce.
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Lemon Pudding Cake

Photo: Leo Gong; Styling: Karen Shinto
Lemon Pudding Cake Recipe
The bright-flavored batter separates into a sponge cake layer atop a pudding bottom. Prep and Cook Time: 1 hour, plus cooling time.

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Molten Chocolate-Nutella Pudding Cakes

Photo: Kate Sears
Molten Chocolate-Nutella Pudding Cakes Recipe
Sweet and tasty from the semisweet chocolate and Nutella, this dessert is part cake and part pudding. Serve warm with a side of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate dessert.

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Raspberry Lemon Pudding Cakes

Photo: Oxmoor House
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Sticky Toffee Pudding

Paule Hible
Sticky Toffee Pudding Recipe
Darlene Watson first tasted these puddings on a trip to Australia. More cake than custard, they are surprisingly easy to make. Prep and Cook Time: about 1 hour.

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Lemon Pudding Cake

Oxmoor House
Lemon Pudding Cake Recipe
Prepare this recipe in the summertime when you're craving a dessert that's not too heavy. Lemon rind and juice provide tartness, which is balanced by the sweetness of the fresh berries. This dessert is not quite a pudding and not quite a cake—it's something in between. A puddinglike layer forms under the tender cake topping as it bakes. It tastes best when served warm.

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Brownie Pudding Cake

Oxmoor House
Brownie Pudding Cake Recipe
Dutch process cocoa and bittersweet chocolate give this dessert - part cake and part pudding - its rich and decadent character. Top with light vanilla ice cream, if desired.
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Rhubarb Pudding Cake

Karry Hosford
Rhubarb Pudding Cake Recipe
Tender, lightly spiced vanilla cake covers a layer of juicy rhubarb. The batter may not cover all of the fruit, but it spreads as the pudding cake bakes.

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Mocha Pudding Cake

Jim Bathie
Mocha Pudding Cake Recipe
A decadent dessert couldn't be easier than this ooey-gooey chocolate cake prepared in a slow cooker. A hint of instant coffee pairs perfectly with the unsweetened cocoa and intensely enriches the flavor.

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Marshmallow-Topped Chocolate Pudding Cakes

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams
Marshmallow-Topped Chocolate Pudding Cakes Recipe
This perfectly portioned indulgence of Marshmallow-Topped Chocolate Pudding Cakes will make you feel like a kid again. Add a caramel drizzle and sprinkle crushed graham crackers on top for a s'mores-like treat.

 

 

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Saucy Cranberry Maple Pudding Cake

Photo: Sang An
Saucy Cranberry Maple Pudding Cake Recipe
Crusty, tender cornmeal cake over juicy, tart cranberries in maple syrup is not quite pudding and not quite cake. Reheat any leftovers in the microwave.

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Berry Pudding Cake

James Carrier
Berry Pudding Cake Recipe
This tender cake bakes over sweet berries, creating a juicy, cobblerlike dessert. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, if desired.

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Mocha Pudding Cake

Photo: Howard L. Puckett; Styling: Mary Catherine Muir
Mocha Pudding Cake Recipe
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Rum-Soaked Sponge Cake with Tropical Fruit

Photography: Becky-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro
Rum-Soaked Sponge Cake with Tropical Fruit Recipe
Both the cake and fruit mixture chill overnight so the cake can absorb the rum and the sugar can soften and sweeten the fruit. A thin layer of custard tops the moist cake.
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